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Western Named the Top Public Master’s-Granting University in the Pacific Northwest by Washington Monthly Magazine

Western Washington University has been ranked as the top public master’s-granting university in the Pacific Northwest by Washington (D.C.) Monthly magazine.

That ranking, which placed Western at #27 in the nation among the 673 schools in its category, also listed the University as #30 in the West for “Bang for the Buck,” which ranks schools based on their best value for the money for both public and private institutions regardless of size.

“It’s gratifying to see that Western’s reputation for providing a top-quality education, with numerous opportunities for community engagement, and a great value for students continues to gain attention across the country. We’re honored to be included on Washington Monthly’s list and welcome the interest of students and families on the East Coast who might not have considered Western before,” said Western President, Bruce Shepard.

The Washington Monthly rankings are based on three overall metrics: Social Mobility, Research and Service. Social Mobility is sorted by the percent of students getting Pell grants, the school’s net price, and its graduation rates. Research is based on research expenditures in millions of dollars and the percentage of students who go on to earn doctorates. Service is broken down by specific rankings in items such as Peace Corps enrollment, percentage of federal work-study funds spent on service, community service participation, and staff devoted to service. The “Best Bang for the Buck” ranking is based on the ACT/SAT scores, percentage of applicants admitted, family income, graduation rates, net price and student loan default rates.

Washington Monthly is a D.C.-based national nonprofit magazine that covers politics and culture. Western’s position in its rankings rose from the #36 master’s granting university in 2014.

For more information on the rankings, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at (360) 650-3350.